A political face-off has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after the Election Commission of India (ECI) introduced a modification to the rules governing the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in West Bengal.
ECI Introduces New Provision for BLAs
In a circular issued on Tuesday, the ECI announced an amendment to paragraph 3(iv) of its earlier instruction dated August 9, 2023.
The revised rule allows a BLA to be appointed from any registered elector within the same Assembly constituency, in case a suitable person from the same booth or part of the electoral roll is unavailable.
The Commission stated that this move is intended to ensure the smooth functioning of the electoral roll revision process, particularly in constituencies where political parties face challenges in appointing eligible booth-level representatives.
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TMC Terms Change “Cunning Move”, Alleges Bias
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress sharply criticised the Election Commission’s decision, calling it a “cunning amendment” designed to benefit the BJP.
In a post on X, the party alleged:
“The ECI has quietly and cunningly amended the rules governing the appointment of Booth Level Agents. This raises serious questions. Why the exception for BLAs? Because the BJP is failing to find local agents and wants to bring outsiders to manipulate the process from within.”
TMC further accused the poll body of functioning as a “servile extension” of the ruling party, alleging that the rule change was made for the BJP’s political convenience.
Party leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh echoed this criticism, saying the decision could “create confusion and complicate the process”. He added that if the circular is confirmed, “it deserves protest.”
BJP Calls Move ‘Progressive and Practical’
In contrast, the BJP welcomed the ECI’s decision, describing it as a progressive step aimed at improving the electoral process.
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West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said the modification “enhances flexibility by allowing BLAs from the same Assembly Constituency in case of unavailability” while maintaining scrutiny to identify shifted or deceased voters.
“This will strengthen the integrity of our electoral process, promote transparency, and empower political parties to contribute more effectively towards accurate voter lists. A big thumbs up to the ECI for listening to ground realities and bolstering democracy,” he said.
The Election Commission has not officially responded to the political controversy, maintaining that the amendment was introduced solely for operational efficiency and transparency.
